Political Notes and News.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 139, 21 September 1887, Page 2

Political Notes and News.

Mr George Henderson sends a letter addressed to the Editor. As the exact words of the letter have appeared in our contemporary as an advertisement we cannot insert Mr Henderson’s communication.

The Express states that a motion embodying thanks and confidence was carried unanimously at Mr Dodson’s mooting at Springlands on Monday evening. As a matter of fact the motion was never put to the meeting.

The Express last evening quoted another speech of Mr Dodson’s from Hansard ! But of what value are tho words of a man who says it is his custom and quite the proper thing to speak one way and vote another.

Mr Joseph. Rraithwaite, in a letter to the Otago Daily Times qn the Ijible-in-schools question says “If every denomination had done what the Catholics have, education would have cost the State nothiug; only the neglected children would have to be provided for.”

The Marlborough Press has published the following amende in connection with Mr Seymour’s alleged slander of Mr Mills, reported by the Press and upon which a writ for libel was to issue : We are sorry that during the present political campaign anything reflecting on the private, character of any gentleman should have pccqrred, especially with respect to Mr Mills, with whom we have been on most friendly terms for many years. As with Mr Mills, we reported Mr Seymour’s speech in full, and the insertion of the statement referred to was not made with any intention of damaging Mr Mills’ character.

The telegrams to hand as to the nominations are very obscure with reference to the Dunedin East nomination. One telegram says the show of hands was in favor of Mr Allan (the Premier’s opponent) ivhilst a later telegram says the show of hands was nearly equal. At Hawera the show of hands was in favor of Mr Felix M'Guire, Major Atkinson’s opponent.

Sir George Grey and Messrs Pyke and Seddon, in addition to the names of Messrs Fergus and Reeves published yesterday, have been returned unopposed. THE MAORI ELECTIONS. (per press association).

Wellington, Sept 19. The final returns for the Maori districts have at last come to hand. For the

Southern Maori District the returns are— Pratt 140, Ellison 103, Kahu 103, and Tikao 72.

Taipua has been elected for the Western Maori District, with 1691. Te Wheoora comes next with 1067, and the remainder with small numbers each.

At the nomination on Friday Mr Dodson tried to infer that Sir Robert Stout had admitted that ho was sorry for something he had said at Ewart’s Hall. A telegram has been received from the Premier flatly contradicting that he ever receded from any statement he had made in Blenheim.

“Scotland Yet” writes in bitter denunciation of Mr Dodson’s remarks at Springlands on “ burgoo,” and, whilst we quite agree that Mr Dodson exhibited a mean and paltry attitude in thus trying to heap ridicule on Sir Robert Stout and other sons of Auld Reekie, we cannot publish the letter of “Scotland Yet” unless the personalities contained therein are eliminated. To publish such a letter would render us liable to an action for libel, and, though we inay sympathise with “Scotland Yet” in his righteous indignation at Mr Dodson’s remarks, we cannot too strongly deprecate a resort to personalities as a means of revenge.

Mr Macalister’s Candidature

■ Mr Maealister’s speeches have attracted the attention of several well-known journals in the Colony, and have been most favorably commented on by them. A few days ago we published an exceedingly complimentary article from the Manawatu Daily Times (an Opposition paper), and yesterday we re-published an article from the Napier Evening News, headed “ A Sound Liberal.” It says much for tho soundness and originality of Mr Macalister’s views when we find such complimentary articles published in our contemporaries in other parts of the Colony. Looking over our exchanges, and never expecting to find anything in support of the Liberal candidate of the Wairau in an Opposition print, we stumbled across the following article, which appears in the Grey River Argus : —“ The day is within measurable distance when New Zealand will be governed by New Zealanders only. Every new general election brings forward more and more representatives of the generation that is to take up the great work of developing the country and advancing the'civilisation of the century, and every one of that class who comes forward should be heartily welcomed by the public and by those who have grown gray in the fray of politics. Amongst the young New Zealanders who are aspiring to play a part in moulding the destinies of the country is Mr S. J. Macalister, one of the candidates for the Wairau. Perhaps Mr Macalister may not have been born in New Zealand. But his first and most lasting impressions were received iu this Colony; his first lessons in the business of life wore taught him in the School of Experience hero, and every shred of his anatomy has been built up by New Zealand air and tho products of her soil. He is, therefore, to all intents and purposes a thorough New Zealander in every souse of the term. Ho is a typical colonist, possessing an energy that laughs at difficulties as merely accidental stumbling blocks that must be surmounted or pushed on one side, and with a breezy, hopeful nature that can never despair or even become despondent he will always move ahead under any circumstances, availing himself of all that can be made use of, and losing no opportunity of going to the front in any line of life in which his lot may happen to be cast. It is of this sterling si uff that our best colonists and foremost men of all classes are made. It was men of that kind of fibre that brought New Zealand to the conspicuous position she occupies to-day, and it will be men of that type who will iesctio the country from its present depressed state. To our mind one of the most hopeful tilings that could happen to Now Zealand would be to see the Colony represented by its own capable, honorable and pushing young men. If anything would be calculated to stimulate them to exertion, and bring out their noblest qualities and loftiest aspirations, it would be the glorious responsibility of being charged with the destinies of their native land. We congratulate the electors of tho Wairau in haring a candidate of the stamp of Mr Macalister, and we can compliment that gentleman on the characteristically bold and manly way in which he has dashed into a contest from whirii older politicians with less energy and pluck might well have held back. The first thing to be done is to restore the credit of the Colony in tho eyes of the world. We must put our financial house in order, and nothing will do that but prudential legislation of the most Spartan type. As a business man, and one who lias had more than ordinary opportunities of looking behind the scenes, Mr Macalister must feel this. Mr Macalister poses as a Liberal and a staunch supporter of the Government. We don’t object to either. It is in the nature of things that lie should be a Liberal in politics if anything. It is as natural for youth to be Liberal, and Mr Macalister is a youth in politics, as it is for age, wealth and rank to be Conservative. Qno is the natural eounterpois of the other. It is easy to gather from the speech he delivered recently to the electors of the Wairau that his knowledge of tlm politics of the country is comprehensive and accurate. It could not well be otherwise with his intelligence and rare opportunities. Still it is creditable to him in his capacity to see that he is not one of those unimpressionable people who only thoroughly wake up when something of more than ordinary interest is going on around them. To

use a phrase common amongst Americans a people to whom we owe many quaint and pithy expressions—Mr Macalister is a “ real live m aT l ” and is wide awake all the time. What talent he has, aqd he has more than the average share, is always at hand ready for business purposes and at a moment’s notice. He is also a lucid and lively speaker, and possesses that great advantage of those who have to speak in public that he is thoroughly in earnest, and he never fails to impress that fact upon his audience who cannot well help responding to his enthusiasm of manaer. We shall he glad lo learn when the election is over that the Wairau electors have cast their votes in favor of the new blood candidate.” NOMINATIONS LIST. * Sat in last Parliament. Auckland North : Vaile, Thompson* and Famall Auckland West: Goldie, Shera and Morrison Newton ; E. W. Withy, J. A. Tole* Ponsonby : Wright, Peacock* and Cooper Waikato : Whyte* and Russell Coromandel: Cad man* and Maekay Franklin North; W. F. Buckland* and Frank Da wry Tauranga: R. J. Gill, Capt Kerr and W. Kelly. Waitemata : Monk* and Reader Word Parnell; Seymour George and Moss* Eden : Mitchelson* and Connell Bay of Islands: Messrs Hobbs* and Lundon.' ’ Manukau : Sir G. M. G’Rorke* and Mr S. S. Osborne. Franklyn South : Messrs Hams, Hamlin* and Kingsford. Rodney : Messrs Moat,* Colbeck, Hudson and Palmer. Waipa: Major Jackson, and Messrs I Campbell, Teasdale and D. Maxwell, *

Thames : "William Fraser*, Jas M'Gownn,

and John Fra ter. New Plymouth : Messrs Samuel,* Smith and Dockrell. Taranaki: Colonel Trimble* and Messrs Elliott, Kelly and Marchant. Waitolara : Hon. John Bryce,* Hutcheson and Morgan. Egmont: Atkinson* and Mr M'Guiro Wanganui: Ballance* and Carson Rangitikei: Messrs Bruce,* Arkright and Stevens. Manawatu : Messrs M'Arthur* and West. Hawke’s Bay : Captain Russell* and Mr A Desmond. Napier : Messrs Ormond* and Ivess*. Waipawa : Harker, Laseelles, Sutton and Tanner. Woodville: W. C. Smith*, 11. Baker and W. M‘Anile Foxton : Wilson,* Thymic, and Sanson. East Coast: M'Donald, Gannon and Graham Wellington South: Messrs Izard and Coombes. Wellington East: Fisher*, Robertson and Carter Hutt: Messrs Fitzherbert* and Mason. Te Aro : Menteath* and F. 11. Fraser* Thorndon ; Dr A. K. Newman* and Win M‘Lean Greytown: W. C. Buchanan* and Henry Bunny Mastertou : Beetham*, Hogg and Hawkins. Nelson : Levastain*, Gibbes and Piper Motueka: Messrs Hursthouse* and lverr*. Waimea-Picton ; Messrs C. H. Mills, A. P. Seymour and Joseph J. Ilarkness. Wairau : Messrs Dodson*, Macalister, and Henderson. Cheviot: Messrs Lance* and Macfarlane. Greymouth : Arthur Robert Guinness* and Joseph Petrie. Westport: Eugene O’Connor*, and John Munro Hokitika: John Be van* and Joseph Grimmond Christchurch-North : Sir Julius Vogel*, and Mr Roberts. Christchurch-South : Messrs Percival, Ayers, Thompson and George. Lyttelton : Joyce and Allwright* Avon : Messrs E. G. Wright and Blake. Selwvn : Sir John Hall and M‘Lauehlan. Sydenham : Crowes and Taylor* Lincoln: O’Callaghan*, Sanders and Dempsey Aslilcy: Pearson*, Higgins and Vcrrall St Albans : Garrick* and Reeves Linwood: Loughrey, Fletcher, Reese* and Partridge Ilcathcote : Jones* and Hopkins Ashburton • Messrs W. C. Walker* and C. W. Purnell. Waimate : Major Steward*, and Messrs Clarke and Manchester. Akaroa : M‘Gregor, Armstrong, Jobbiu,

Anson, Barnett and Thicker Oamaru: T. W. Hislop* John Church and W. H. Frito. Tcmuka: Messrs Twomey, Rhodes and Franks. Waitaki ■ Messrs Duncan* and Reid. Waihemo: Messrs Buekland* and Mckenzie*. Rangitata ; Win Palmer, S. Buxton and Hon W. Rollestou* Dunedin Central : Fitchctt and Cargill Dunedin South ; Fish and Gore* Dunedin West: Steward* and Dick. Dunedin East: Sir Robert Stout* and Mr

Allen Peninsular : Lamach* and Bcgg Caversham : Barron* and R. Rutherford Roslyn : Ross*, Carlton and Hutchison Clutlia : J. W. Thomson* and Thomas Mackenzie Taie’.'i: J. Fulton* and W. Caivcross. Bruce : Messrs Reid* and Anderson. Invercargill: Messrs Hatch*, Mitchell, Jaggers, Feld wick and Tanner. Wallace : IT. Hirst*, S. Ilodgkinson, T. Daniell, and J, MTntyro Waikaia: F. S. Canning, 11. Valentine and Capt MTvenzie Mataura: G. F. Richardson*, and J.

Mackintosh Ilokonui: Cowan* anil A. Baldey Awuma: Messrs Bain, Froggart and Ward. Port Chalmers : James Mills* and James Green. Tuapeka : Brown* and Burnett Mount Ida : Seobie MTvenzie* and Owen Hodge